Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves

Casualty, environmental and other reserves are considered critical accounting estimates that involve significant management judgments. They are provided for in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:



	September 30, 2011						December 31, 2010
(Dollars in millions)	Current		Long-term		Total		Current		Long-term		Total

Casualty:
Personal Injury	$	78	$	175	$	253	$	78	$	176	$	254
Occupational	10		34		44		10		30		40
Asbestos	9		58		67		9		72		81
Total Casualty	97		267		364		97		278		375
Separation	16		36		52		16		44		60
Environmental	55		31		86		37		70		107
Other	32		100		132		26		110		136
Total	$	200	$	434	$	634	$	176	$	502	$	678

These liabilities are accrued when estimable and probable in accordance with the Contingencies Topic in the ASC. Actual settlements and claims received could differ. The final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. Considering the legal defenses currently available, the liabilities that have been recorded and other factors, it is the opinion of management that none of these items, when finally resolved, will have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Should a number of these items occur in the same period, however, they could have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity in that particular period.


NOTE 4.	Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

Casualty

Casualty reserves represent accruals for personal injury, occupational injury and asbestos claims. During 2010 the Company increased its self-insured retention amount for these claims from $25 million to $50 million per injury for claims occurring on or after June 1, 2010. Currently, no individual claim is expected to exceed the self-insured retention amount. In accordance with the Contingencies Topic in the ASC, to the extent the value of an individual claim exceeds the self-insured retention amount, the Company would present the liability on a gross basis with a corresponding receivable for insurance recoveries. These reserves fluctuate based upon the timing of payments as well as changes in independent third-party estimates, which are reviewed by management. Actual results may vary from estimates due to the number, type and severity of the injury, costs of medical treatments and uncertainties in litigation. Most of the claims relate to CSXT unless otherwise noted below. Defense and processing costs, which historically have been insignificant and are anticipated to be insignificant in the future, are not included in the recorded liabilities.

Personal Injury

Personal injury reserves represent liabilities for employee work-related and third-party injuries. Work-related injuries for CSXT employees are primarily subject to the Federal Employers' Liability Act (“FELA”). In addition to FELA liabilities, employees of other CSX subsidiaries are covered by various state workers' compensation laws, the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program or the Maritime Jones Act.

CSXT retains an independent actuarial firm to assist management in assessing the value of personal injury claims. An analysis is performed by the independent actuarial firm quarterly and is reviewed by management. The methodology used by the actuary includes a development factor to reflect growth or reduction in the value of these personal injury claims. It is based largely on CSXT's historical claims and settlement experience.

Occupational & Asbestos

Occupational claims arise from allegations of exposure to certain materials in the workplace, such as solvents, soaps, chemicals (collectively referred to as “irritants”) and diesel fuels (exhaust fumes) or allegations of chronic physical injuries resulting from work conditions, such as repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss.

An analysis of occupational claims is performed quarterly by an independent actuarial firm and reviewed by management. The methodology used includes estimates of future anticipated incurred but not reported claims based on the Company's trends in average historical claim filing rates, future anticipated dismissal rates and future settlement rates.

Asbestos claims are from employees alleging exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos claims are reviewed quarterly by management, and analyzed annually by a third party expert. The methodology used includes estimates of future anticipated incurred but not reported claims based on the Company's trends in average historical claim filing rates, future anticipated dismissal rates and future settlement rates.


NOTE 4.	Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

Separation

Separation liabilities represent the estimated benefits provided to certain union employees as a result of implementing workforce reductions, improvements in productivity and certain other cost reductions at the Company's major transportation units since 1991. These liabilities are expected to be paid out over the next 10 to 15 years from general corporate funds and may fluctuate depending on the timing of payments and associated taxes.

Environmental

The Company is a party to various proceedings related to environmental issues, including administrative and judicial proceedings involving private parties and regulatory agencies. The Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party at approximately 256 environmentally impaired sites. Many of these are, or may be, subject to remedial action under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, also known as the Superfund Law, or similar state statutes. Most of these proceedings arose from environmental conditions on properties used for ongoing or discontinued railroad operations. A number of these proceedings, however, are based on allegations that the Company, or its predecessors, sent hazardous substances to facilities owned or operated by others for treatment, recycling or disposal. In addition, some of the Company's land holdings were leased to others for commercial or industrial uses that may have resulted in releases of hazardous substances or other regulated materials onto the property and could give rise to proceedings against the Company.

In any such proceedings, the Company is subject to environmental clean-up and enforcement actions under the Superfund Law, as well as similar state laws that may impose joint and several liability for clean-up and enforcement costs on current and former owners and operators of a site without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. These costs could be substantial.

In accordance with the Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations Topic in the ASC, the Company reviews its role with respect to each site identified at least quarterly, giving consideration to a number of factors such as:


•	type of clean-up required;


•	nature of the Company's alleged connection to the location (e.g., generator of waste sent to the site or owner or operator of the site);


•	extent of the Company's alleged connection (e.g., volume of waste sent to the location and other relevant factors); and


•	number, connection and financial viability of other named and unnamed potentially responsible parties at the location.

Based on the review process, the Company has recorded amounts to cover anticipated contingent future environmental remediation costs with respect to each site to the extent such costs are estimable and probable. The recorded liabilities for estimated future environmental costs are undiscounted. The liability includes future costs for remediation and restoration of sites as well as any significant ongoing monitoring costs, but excludes any anticipated insurance recoveries. Payments related to these liabilities are expected to be made over the next several years. Environmental remediation costs are included in materials, supplies and other on the consolidated income statement.


NOTE 4.	Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

Currently, the Company does not possess sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amounts of additional liabilities, if any, on some sites until completion of future environmental studies. In addition, conditions that are currently unknown could, at any given location, result in additional exposure, the amount and materiality of which cannot presently be reliably estimated. Based upon information currently available, however, the Company believes its environmental reserves are adequate to fund remedial actions to comply with present laws and regulations.

Other

Other reserves include liabilities for various claims, such as longshoremen disability claims, freight claims and claims for property, automobile and general liability.